Do you think christianity has undermined social harmony?

Question

I'm looking for philosophical view points, defend your answer with facts.

Answer 1

I think it has always attempted social harmony, but under its own terms. Those who don't agree with its terms it creates disharmony with.

For example, within a congregation of like-minded people there is often harmony. Many congregations run charities, good-will houses, and legitimately wish well upon people and want to improve people's lives.

However, in many cases their idea of improvement includes conversion. Those who do not agree that christianity is the right path are "misguided", those who practice beliefs they disagree with are "sinners".

When taken to the extreme, you end up with cases ranging from Westboro picketing soliders funerals, to attacking gays...all the way to mass extermination (Spanish Inquisition, Holocaust, etc).

When not in the extreme, you still often get cases of disrespect and close-minded behavior. A sneer to the wiccan, a comment about the gay, and a "holier-than-thou attitude".

No, not all christians are guilty of this...and christianity is not the only religion guilty of this. Overall I'd say that the religion creates more harmony within itself, but more discord with the rest of society.

Answer 2

No, I think that some "Christians" have undermined social harmony. It isn't the teachings that are wrong, but the application of them. Humans are fallible creatures and often fall prey to greed and hate. The reason that Christianity is getting such a bad rap now is more or less due to the people using the teachings of a peaceful man to exploit others for profit and gain.

Answer 3

Yes. Most recently with the Christian campaign against homosexuality, which throughout history has been acknowledged and accepted by many societies. Looking further back, during the conquest of the "New World" by European powers in the 16th and 17th centuries, Christian missionaries were usually right behind the soldiers invading new lands. While attempting to "spread the word", these missionaries often introduced old world diseases into new world communities. With no resistance to these diseases, whole populations of new world peoples were killed off. This had a bad effect on these communities' social harmony. And to go further back in history, there was all the nastiness during the Crusades, which included wholesale slaughter of villages in the name of Christianity.

Answer 4

Christianity? No:
Churchianity? Yes:

Historical accounts of theological disputes predate Christianity.

Simply by presenting itself as an alternative, Christianity has added to social discord, but it has not actively interfered with either secular governments or other religions.

Throughout history, government actors and NGOs have usurped religion for political gain, and that has further undermined social harmony.

The great problem in every case seems to have derived from the facts that:

(1) ordinary rank-and-file converts, having almost no real understanding of the principles whereupon their respective faiths were founded, are with relative ease manipulated to do the bidding of their leaders, and

(2) unfortunately, those leaders usurp the verbiage of the faiths they purport themselves to represent.

Thus, from pulpits throughout the worlds of religion and government have been launched political missiles in violation of the peace and dignity of ordinary people -- whether within or without a particular faith.

Christianity is internally communist and externally socialist; its followers are concerned primarily with the welfare of others.

Answer 5

No. But do think the lack of social harmony has undermined Christian doctrine, irrespective of the internal issues which exist in all forms of religion?

Answer 6

All religions are exclusive and divisive and Christianity is a text book example of this, they look out for their followers interests only and seek privilege for them at the disadvantage of others, religion is sectarian and for the wider community it does little to encourage social harmony.

The moral absolutism of Christianity goes against logic and reason often and this begs the question of theists ...why did God give us logic & reason if we were not meant to apply them.

The absolutist "one size fits all" approach is one of Chritianity's big flaws, it is rigid , inflexible and cannot adapt... it has already ossified it is not growing or allowing room for anything new, it is therefore a dead religion belonging only to the past.

Answer 7

On the contrary -- it has done more than any other institution on earth to foster it!

People who claim that Christianity undermines it are probably just looking for an excuse to defame and discredit a religion that issues moral teachings that they just don't want to hear.

Answer 8

Yes and no of all religion. You can find religion as reason or part of a reason for almost every war. So many religious people are intolerant of others with different beliefs or lifestyles. Yet religion also sets a list of morals such as not harming others and ect that help society.

Answer 9

Yes. The numerous religious factions differ and argue over their point of view and demand consensus of opinion for their side.This certainly prevents social harmony.

Answer 10

Absolutely. Their shrill insistence that theirs is the only true religion, combined with their general intolerance for anything that conflicts with their beliefs leads to a definite erosion of social harmony.
Add to that their political ambitions and you've got a recipe for social disaster.